Need to knowJude Bellingham was somewhat fortunate to avoid a red card in England vs Ghana after appearing to break a new World Cup rule13:52, 24 Jun 2026Jude Bellingham of England was not sent off despite being captured covering his mouth while speaking to Ghana's Jordan Ayew(Image: (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images))Here is everything you need to know about why England's Jude Bellingham was not shown a red card despite covering his mouth when in conversation with Ghana's Jordan Ayew...The Bellingham incident: A picture of England's Jude Bellingham covering his mouth while talking to Ghana's Jordan Ayew sparked controversy due to a new rule.Why Bellingham escaped sanction: Bellingham was not penalised during the match against Ghana because his interaction with Ayew was purely a friendly chat with no animosity.The new regulation: For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA introduced a law stating a player can be sent off with a red card for hiding their mouth when speaking to an opponent during a confrontation.The first offense: Paraguay's Miguel Almiron became the first player sent off under this rule during a heated match against Turkey, following a VAR review.Rule catalyst: FIFA President Gianni Infantino requested the law after Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni received a six-match UEFA ban for homophobic abuse toward Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr.Context is key: FIFA's head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, clarified that players are still allowed to cover their mouths during friendly chats, but doing so during a confrontation implies potential wrongdoing.READ MORE - World Cup LIVE: Jude Bellingham dubs England draw with Ghana 'second game fever' as Scotland fans descend on Miami for Brazil clash